logo
Ohio University Black alumni plan own reunion after DEI concerns canceled event

Ohio University Black alumni plan own reunion after DEI concerns canceled event

Yahoo11-04-2025

ATHENS, Ohio (WCMH) — Anti-DEI legislation stopped Ohio University from hosting its Black Alumni Reunion, but it did not stop Black alumni, who corralled community support and planned the event themselves.
With just over a month's notice, Ohio University placed the Black Alumni Reunion on hold on March 5, citing threats to university funding if it did not comply with anti-DEI orders. Alumni, community organizations and students joined forces in response to the decision, planning a Black Alumni Weekend for April 10-13, the same weekend the university-sponsored reunion had been scheduled for.
'Through a weekend of networking, mentorship, and celebration, we honor the rich legacy of Black and Brown excellence at Ohio University,' the Black Alumni Weekend website states. 'By partnering with local businesses, the city of Athens, and fellow alumni, we ensure that our traditions thrive beyond campus boundaries.'
Owner of Browns, Crew seeks state funds after donating to legislators
Ohio University paused the event after orders from the Department of Education to pause DEI services aligned with fears that Senate Bill 1, which bans DEI in higher education in Ohio, would complicate matters. In years past, the triennial event was second only to homecoming for Ohio alumni gatherings. Hundreds of Bobcats had planned to attend before they got word it was cancelled. See previous coverage of the cancellation in the video player above.
'My initial reaction was definitely feeling hurt, disappointed, upset – a combination of all three of those feelings,' Ohio University alumnae Brandi Baker said.
Baker, a two-time Ohio alumnae and former university employee in roles progressing diversity efforts, first spoke with NBC4 in March, voicing her frustration with the decision. Shortly after, Baker took that disappointment and channeled it into productivity, hosting a virtual town hall to address Ohio University's decision.
'We had over 100 alumni join the call from all over the world: people from Germany and people who live in Africa right now, and people from all over who are concerned about what has happened and what is happening with the institution and within the state of Ohio,' Baker said.
Students worry Ohio's anti-DEI law will inhibit their programs
Attendees included Athens city officials and many alumni, who overwhelmingly said they still wanted the event to happen. Baker, who had founded the Racial Equity Coalition of Appalachia several years prior, was able to use the coalition's resources to help plan the event in a matter of weeks. Organizers met daily, bringing in help from the city.
'We've had amazing local business owners who definitely were also disappointed about hearing how the university handled things, and they were very supportive,' Baker said.
Baker said donations allowed several events to be free for attendees, and the reunion has been promoted by Athens County tourism organizations. Local bars offered to host deals or events, and the Athens County Foundation offered a grant and set up a fund for donations.
The weekend began Thursday evening and continues through Sunday with more than two dozen free and ticketed events. A full schedule can be found here and features networking opportunities, a cookout, the traditional reunion Variety Show and opportunities to embrace Athens' Black history.
'People of color in Appalachia — that's not really something typical that people think about when they think about rural areas in Ohio,' Baker said. 'They don't think that it also includes people of color, but it does.'
What's in, out of the Ohio budget?
There is a prolific history of Black communities who settled in and around Athens. Alumni can tour the Tablertown People of Color Museum during the reunion, a nearby museum run by one local man who has dedicated his time to preserving Black history in the region. Several other events will take place at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, a historically Black church noted for its priceless stained glass windows that is undergoing preservation efforts.
Baker said this history combined with the legacy of Black alumni to shape the celebratory reunion. She said she expects hundreds of alumni to attend this weekend. The event even has shirts — also a partnership with a local business — including one that sums up organizers' feelings: 'you can't cancel what you didn't create.'
'I'm very thankful, and it definitely is showing diversity, equity and inclusion in action,' Baker said. 'So I really appreciate all of the support from our community and Athens, and I'm looking forward to an exciting weekend.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

As Trump escalates immigration fight, Democrats face high-stakes test: ANALYSIS

time20 minutes ago

As Trump escalates immigration fight, Democrats face high-stakes test: ANALYSIS

The standoff between Democratic leadership in deep-blue California and the Trump administration amid protests of immigration raids in Los Angeles lays bare bitter political divisions and sets the stage for the high-stakes fight at the ballot box as the midterm elections inch closer, with the 2028 presidential contest to follow not long after that. From the Oval Office, President Donald Trump promised that more cities could see raids from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. With that, the possibility of a sustained protest movement grows, along with the possibility of more federal intervention -- whether Democratic officials want it or not. The way Democrats proceed in this moment could affect enthusiasm for the party's candidates come midterms time, when the party is trying to reclaim power in a Washington where it has very little. For Democrats, anti-Trump sentiment is undoubtedly a mobilizing factor, and polling has suggested Democrats want their leaders to fight harder against the Republican Party. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, widely considered to be a possible 2028 presidential candidate, has positioned himself as the most prominent foil to an administration he's accused of encroaching on his state's autonomy by deploying federal troops to Los Angeles without an ask from California authorities. Newsom was also emboldened in his criticism of Trump after the president told reporters Monday it would be a "great thing" if Newsom were arrested. "The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor," Newsom posted on Instagram, along with a video of Trump's comments. "This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation -- this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism." Still, later Monday, Newsom condemned the violence in his state while appearing to place blame on the president, saying, "Have no doubt -- Violent criminals who take advantage of Trump's chaos WILL be held accountable. Our number one priority has been and will be keeping LA safe." Democratic governors stood by Newsom in a carefully worded statement that both condemned the violence that took place in Los Angeles and called Trump's actions "ineffective and dangerous." "It's important we respect the executive authority of our country's governors to manage their National Guards -- and we stand with Governor Newsom who has made it clear that violence is unacceptable and that local authorities should be able to do their jobs without the chaos of this federal interference and intimidation," they said in the statement. Similarly, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged peaceful protest and condemned Trump's actions, telling reporters on Sunday, "What we're seeing in Los Angeles is chaos that is provoked by the administration." The optics of violence in the streets of a major American city -- though the most destructive protests have been in a relatively small, isolated area -- with Democrats pushing back on militarized force on protesters is a fight the Trump White House, and Republicans more broadly, are willing to wage. "I think it's another reason why you're seeing the demise of the Democrat brand around the country," Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Tuesday. "You got a city on fire," he added. "You got people marching with foreign flags, people marching with a Mexican flag in LA, resisting federal law, interfering with federal law. You have the governor and the mayor, both Democrats, saying they will interfere and will not uphold federal law." And while many elected Democrats will take a head-on Newsom-esque approach to confronting moves by the Trump administration, others will likely try to find less combative ways to do so. In San Francisco, which saw protests of its own related to ICE raids, Mayor Daniel Lurie centered public safety in his message about protests and has avoided mentioning Trump by name. "Everyone in this country has a right to make their voice heard peacefully," Lurie said Sunday. "But we will never tolerate violent and destructive behavior." Lurie has drawn some criticism from some corners of San Francisco for his relative silence on Trump, but others argue it allows him to stay above the fray. It remains to be seen which strategy -- Newsom's defiance or Lurie's restraint -- will resonate with voters.

South Korea halts loudspeaker broadcasts along border with rival North Korea

time21 minutes ago

South Korea halts loudspeaker broadcasts along border with rival North Korea

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea's military has shut down loudspeakers broadcasting anti-North Korea propaganda along the inter-Korean border, marking the new liberal government's first concrete step toward easing tensions between the war-divided rivals. The South resumed the loudspeaker broadcasts in June last year following a yearslong pause in retaliation for North Korea flying trash-laden balloons toward the South in a psychological warfare campaign. South Korea's Defense Ministry said Wednesday that the move was part of efforts to 'to restore trust in inter-Korean relations and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.' North Korea, which is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its authoritarian leadership and its third-generation ruler, Kim Jong Un, didn't immediately comment on the step by Seoul. From May to November last year, North Korea flew about 7,000 balloons toward South Korea in 32 separate events to drop substances such as wastepaper, cloth scraps, cigarette butts and even manure. The North said that its balloon campaign came after South Korean activists sent over balloons filled with anti-North Korean leaflets, as well as USB sticks filled with popular South Korean songs and dramas. Trash carried by at least one North Korean balloon fell on the South Korean presidential compound in July, raising concerns about the vulnerability of key South Korean facilities. Officials said that the balloon contained no dangerous material and no one was hurt. South Korea, in response to the North Korean balloons, reactivated its front-line loudspeakers to blast propaganda messages and K-pop songs toward the North. The playlist was clearly designed to strike the nerve of Pyongyang, as Kim's government since the COVID-19 pandemic has been intensifying a campaign to eliminate the influence of South Korean pop culture and language among the population in a bid to strengthen his family's dynastic rule. The Cold War-style psychological warfare campaigns added to tensions fueled by North Korea's growing nuclear ambitions and South Korean efforts to expand joint military exercises with the United States and strengthen three-way security cooperation with Japan. South Korea's new liberal president, Lee Jae-myung, who took office last week after winning an early election to replace ousted conservative Yoon Suk Yeol, has vowed to improve relations with Pyongyang, which reacted furiously to Yoon's hard-line policies and shunned dialogue. During the election campaign, Lee promised to halt the loudspeaker broadcasts, arguing that they created unnecessary tensions and discomfort for South Korean residents in border towns. In recent months, those residents had complained about North Korea's retaliatory broadcasts, which included howling animals, pounding gongs and other irritating sounds. In a briefing on Monday, South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, also called for South Korean civilian activists to stop flying anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border. Such activities 'could heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula and threaten the lives and safety of residents in border areas,' said Koo Byoungsam, the ministry's spokesperson. In his inaugural address last week, Lee vowed to reopen communication channels with North Korea to ease tensions. But prospects for an early resumption of dialogue between the rival Koreas remain dim, as North Korea has consistently rejected offers from South Korea and the United States since 2019, when nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang collapsed over sanctions-related disagreements. North Korea's priority in foreign policy is now firmly with Russia, which has received thousands of North Korean troops and large amounts of military equipment in recent months for its war with Ukraine. Yoon, who was removed from office in April over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December, had focused on strengthening military partnerships with Washington and Tokyo and on securing stronger U.S. assurances of a swift and decisive nuclear response to defend the South against a North Korean attack. In a fierce reaction to Yoon's policies, Kim in January 2024 declared that he was abandoning the long-standing goals of a peaceful unification with the South and instructed the rewriting of the North's constitution to cement the South as a permanent 'principal enemy.'

The leader of the opposition
The leader of the opposition

Politico

time26 minutes ago

  • Politico

The leader of the opposition

Presented by With help from Eli Okun and Bethany Irvine On this morning's Playbook Podcast, Jack and Adam Wren discuss Gavin Newsom's emergence this week at the front of the anti-Trump pack … and why Saturday's grand military parade in D.C. may not be entirely comfortable viewing for either GOP grandees or military top brass. Good Wednesday morning. This is Jack Blanchard, more bleary-eyed than usual after last night's glammed-up party at the French Ambassador's place. But fear not: I stuck to sparkling water all night long, just for you guys … Playbook is a cruel mistress indeed. Let me know how I'm doing so far. BREAKING THIS MORNING: Elon says sorry. 'I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,' Elon Musk wrote on X at, erm, 3.04 a.m. this morning. It follows Musk's decision to delete some of his most egregious messages about Trump from last Thursday's blowup — yes, including the Jeffrey Epstein one — and marks the culmination of a pretty unprecedented climbdown, by Musk's standards. There's no sign of a response from the president as yet, but he'll surely be lapping it up. Popcorn at the ready: And if that's not enough theater for you, Trump — joined by the lesser-spotted Melania — will head to the Kennedy Center this evening for the opening night of 'Les Misérables.' Trump, of course, fired the arts center's entire board in February and appointed himself chair. And now — as luck would have it — his favorite musical's coming to town. Enhanced security will be in place all day, though whether that stops Trump getting the JD Vance treatment remains to be seen. Plot twist: For those who haven't seen it, 'Les Mis' follows a group of 19th-century king-hating revolutionaries who take to the streets against their authoritarian government, but ultimately see their hopes of change crushed. It's hard to see how it could have any real relevance today. In today's Playbook … — Newsom grabs his moment as hundreds of U.S. Marines hit the streets of LA. — Bessent heads to the Hill after trade breakthrough with China. — GOP senators huddle to discuss reconciliation tweaks. DRIVING THE DAY WATERSHED MOMENT: Hundreds of U.S. Marines will hit the streets of Los Angeles today as the Trump administration cranks up its pressure on the city's immigrant population. The 700 active-duty Marines sent to L.A. will join existing National Guard troops in 'protecting federal property and personnel,' a spokesperson for the U.S. Northern Command said this morning (per the NYT) — 'including providing security to ICE agents on their missions.' It follows a complaint from border czar Tom Homan that the LA protests have made it 'dangerous' for ICE officials to do their jobs. Mission creep: The anarchic and riotous scenes we saw in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday have actually largely dissipated — especially following Mayor Karen Bass' decision to impose an 8 p.m. curfew last night. But the troops Trump has deployed are going nowhere. Instead, official ICE pictures yesterday showed National Guard troops standing guard alongside ICE officers as they carried out raids on undocumented migrants across LA. (Bloomberg News confirmed this is happening). And it sounds like the newly deployed Marines will be asked to do the same. Let's be clear: These are precisely the sorts of scenes — U.S. troops assisting with immigration raids in liberal cities — that Dems have feared since Trump's election. They are also precisely the target of California Gov. Gavin Newsom's request for an emergency injunction against the way Trump is deploying military force in his state, per POLITICO's Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein. District Judge Charles Breyer — the Bill Clinton-appointed brother of former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer — will hear that case tomorrow. It could be quite a moment. We need to talk about Gavin: Newsom, for his part, delivered a pretty extraordinary address to the nation last night, in which he sought to position himself as the leader of America's anti-Trump opposition. Speaking directly to camera in a crisp, eight-minute monologue, Newsom denounced Trump's aggressive deployment of ICE officers and military forces in LA — before raising his eyes to horizons far beyond his own state. 'This isn't just about protests here in Los Angeles,' Newsom told America. 'This is about all of us. This is about you. California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next. Democracy is under assault before our eyes.' Going viral: The video is getting plenty of love from Dems online — hitting more than a million views on the MeidasTouch YouTube channel inside three hours last night. And it was on the front pages of both the NYT and WaPo early this morning. 'I for one am very happy to see somebody that isn't afraid to speak up,' Ana Navarro told CNN. 'I have been so thirsty for somebody that is not cowardly, bending the knee and selling out to Donald Trump as he does all of this to America.' Even the WSJ describes Newsom as 'the leader of the opposition.' This is all fascinating stuff for kremlinologists of the fledgling 2028 Democratic race. Playbook noted yesterday that politicians aligning themselves with anti-ICE protesters may be taking on political risk come a general election, but Newsom is playing a different game right now — and playing it well. He even leaned into Trump's threat to have him arrested, spying the same political opportunity enjoyed by Trump himself in 2023. (POLITICO's Jeremy White and Melanie Mason take a closer look at Newsom's leadership prospects here.) White House pushback: Trump has yet to respond directly to Newsom's video, but it was striking to see the White House comms operation move into overdrive last night. White House comms director Steven Cheung and his deputy Alex Pfeiffer were both going predictably hard at Newsom on X, as was the White House's Rapid Response account. Stephen Miller did not hold back. Trump's pal Jon Voight published a blistering video response. Others in MAGA world simply mocked Newsom for the technical glitches that wrecked the initial live broadcast. But but but: It's worth noting Team Newsom is giving as good as it gets, mimicking the ways Trump has successfully deployed social media over recent years. We're seeing rapid response pushback; caustic humor, deeply mocking tones. And again — plenty of online Dems are lapping it up. WaPo's Tatum Hunter has more on that. Taking it offline: Trump, predictably, now appears to be considering other ways to punish California, including cutting federal education funds (per POLITICO's Rebecca Carballo and colleagues) and killing its nation-leading vehicle emissions standards (per POLITICO's Alex Nieves.) First in Playbook: This all comes ahead of Trump's big military parade in D.C. on Saturday, and the split-screen scenes in Los Angeles and Washington 'underscore how Trump is leveraging his role as commander-in-chief in a much clearer and more urgent way than he did during his first term — embodying the image of a strong military commander that he has long admired in other foreign leaders, allies and adversaries alike,' POLITICO's Megan Messerly and colleagues write this morning. The heartburn: NYT's Helene Cooper reports some military leaders are feeling a little uncomfortable about the whole thing, now that troops are literally being deployed on U.S. streets to help quell protests. Even GOP Hill members are squirming: POLITICO surveyed 50 GOP lawmakers, and only seven said they planned to stay in Washington this weekend for the festivities. Also uncomfortable viewing: U.S. troops booing and jeering Trump's rivals during yesterday's presidential speech at Fort Bragg. Watch the clip IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID INFLATION NATION: The monthly Consumer Price Index data for May comes out at 8:30 a.m., the latest measure of whether Trump's trade wars are driving up costs for Americans. Economists predict a tick up to 2.9 percent inflation annually and 0.3 percent month to month, reflecting a moderate impact from tariffs, Bloomberg's Mark Niquette reports. Trading places: Fresh off a plane from London, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will appear before the House Ways & Means Committee at 10 a.m. and a Senate Appropriations subcommittee at 4 p.m., where he'll likely provide a download from the latest U.S.-China trade talks. And Bessent has good news to share: The two sides announced last night that negotiators had struck a deal for a framework to restore their May trade truce, per the FT. It still awaits sign-off from Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, but you can expect markets to react positively this morning. Watching brief: Bloomberg's Saleha Mohsin and colleagues report that more and more Trump advisers want him to tap Bessent as the next Fed chair, despite the denials. Devil in the details: We're still waiting for specifics on this new U.S.-China deal — but if the U.S. has agreed to dial back some tech export controls, Bloomberg notes, Beijing would see that as a win. Indeed, analysts say that China's effective use of rare earths as leverage illustrates how the 'Trump administration underestimated Beijing's ability to withstand the pain of tariffs,' WaPo's Katrina Northrop writes. Trump won't enjoy reading that. In better news for Trump: The president landed a significant victory last night as an appeals court lifted a ruling that had blocked the president's sweeping 'Liberation Day' tariffs, per Reuters. The court said Trump can enforce the levies while litigation on the merits proceeds. Arguments aren't scheduled until the end of July. And it's not just China: Negotiators are also close to a deal with Mexico that would remove some U.S. tariffs on steel, Bloomberg's Joe Deaux and Eric Martin scooped. MEANWHILE ON THE HILL RECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES: Senate Republicans will meet behind closed doors this afternoon to get the latest information on their 'big, beautiful bill' from committee chairs who have not yet released their portions of the bill text. Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) will brief members on a plan to reduce the House's SNAP cuts, forcing costs for food aid onto states at a lower rate than the House passed, POLITICO's Meredith Lee Hill and Grace Yarrow report. But on the flip side, Sen. Jim Justice ( warns that foisting SNAP costs onto state capitals could cost Republicans control of Congress, Grace reports. (Check out our colleagues on Inside Congress for more on the GOP's latest megabill casualties.) First in Playbook: Fear of those very changes — and other budgetary hits to states from the bill — is prompting several Democratic-led states to consider special sessions later this year to address the fallout, POLITICO's Jordan Wolman reports. Major fiscal changes and cuts could be in the offing. ELSEWHERE IN CONGRESS: It's a busy day on the Hill, with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan 'Razin' Caine, HUD Secretary Scott Turner and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum all testifying in addition to Bessent. FAA Administrator-designate Bryan Bedford will be up for his confirmation hearing, and the Senate will have a procedural vote at noon on Billy Long's nomination for IRS commissioner. Swamp watch: Rep. Mark Green's (R-Tenn.) surprise announcement on Monday that he'll resign from Congress came while he was in Guyana, missing House votes, NOTUS' Reese Gorman reports. Though Green hasn't specified his next steps in the private sector, he's already been pitching people on … investment opportunities in Guyana. What a world. Gerontocracy watch: 87-year-old Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) told reporters she's running for election again after 18 terms — only for her office to suddenly introduce some wiggle room after a noisy outcry, POLITICO's Nick Wu reports. … 76-year-old Rep. Kweisi Mfume's (D-Md.) is hoping to benefit from seniority as he seeks the House Oversight ranking member spot, Nick and colleagues report. … And while we're doing elderly politicians, former White House aides Neera Tanden, Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams and Annie Tomasini have agreed to testify before House Oversight as it investigates former President Joe Biden's abilities in office, per POLITICO's Hailey Fuchs. Half of D.C. will be tuning in for that. BEST OF THE REST CLIMATE FILES: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is due to announce a major pollution-prevention rollback at 2 p.m., Bloomberg's Ari Natter and Jennifer Dlouhy scooped. The agency's latest deregulatory moves will unwind Biden-era rules that forced power plants to curb emissions. ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Frontrunners Jack Ciattarelli and Rep. Mikie Sherrill easily secured the respective Republican and Democratic gubernatorial nominations in New Jersey, teeing up one of this year's marquee elections, as POLITICO's Matt Friedman breaks down. It'll be a crucial test of the electorate's mood during Trump's second term, especially as the typically blue state has looked purpler of late: Ciattarelli fell 3 points short of beating incumbent Phil Murphy in 2021, and Kamala Harris bested Trump by only 6 last year. TRAIL MIX: Hannah Pingree became the latest Democrat to jump into the Maine gubernatorial race, per the Portland Press Herald's Randy Billings. The former state House speaker is also the daughter of Rep. Chellie Pingree. … And Mike Bloomberg swung his support behind Andrew Cuomo, which could give the NYC mayoral frontrunner a significant boost, the NY Post's Carl Campanile and Craig McCarthy report. MONUMENTAL NEWS: The Justice Department put out a legal opinion, overturning guidance from 1938, to say that the president can unilaterally abolish entire national monuments created by previous presidents, WaPo's Jake Spring reports. If Trump goes there, it 'would take the administration into untested legal territory.' BILL OF HEALTH: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist who has made several anti-vaccine moves since taking over the health agency, said he wouldn't bring in anti-vaxxers to replace the important advisory committee he fired, per Bloomberg. MEDIAWATCH: ABC News said longtime correspondent Terry Moran's contract won't be renewed after he blasted Stephen Miller on social media as 'a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred,' per WaPo. WHISTLIN' DIXIE: 'Trump reverses Army base names in latest DEI purge,' by POLITICO's Jack Detsch and Paul McLeary TALK OF THE TOWN Jeanne Shaheen's staff had to figure out how to navigate an 8-foot-tall stuffed moose — and a bear nearly as tall — through the Capitol. Bill Nye showed a Men's Health reporter legions of texts Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sent him a while back filled with anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. SPORTS BLINK — The Congressional Baseball Game takes place at 7:05 p.m. at Nats Park tonight. Republicans enter with a four-year winning streak — including a 31-11 rout last year. It'll air on Fox Sports 1, with commentary from Kevin Corke and Chad Pergram. PLAYBOOK ARTS SECTION — 'Smithsonian to Conduct Wide Content Review Requested by Trump,' by WSJ's Natalie Andrews and colleagues: 'The content review is a victory for the White House as Trump extends his reach to the country's cultural institutions. PLAYBOOK METRO SECTION — House Republicans are no closer to fixing the billion-dollar hole they blew in the city's budget … but they are passing bills this week to repeal a D.C. law that allows non-citizens to vote in local elections, NYT's Michael Gold reports. OUT AND ABOUT — French Ambassador Laurent Bili, Steve Clemons, Heather Podesta, Kellyanne Conway and Cory Gardner hosted the fourth edition of Amethyste at Bili's residence last night. SPOTTED: Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and Dina Powell McCormick, Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Reps. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas) and Gabe Amo (D-R.I.), Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands), Joe and Gayle Manchin, Vince Haley, CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, Kiron Skinner, Justin Fanelli, Paul Dabbar, Omar Vargas, Faryar Shirzad, Teresa Carlson, Nick Carr, Dante Disparte, Riaz Valani, Joe Bartlett, Ludovic Hood, Sarah Rogers, Alex Wong, Joe Hack, Hogan Gidley, Morgan Ortagus, Sébastien Fagart, Belgian Ambassador Frédéric Bernard, Japanese Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, Roy Blunt, Dan Knight, John Hudson, Kaitlan Collins, Josh Dawsey, Tammy Haddad, Gloria Dittus, Daniel Cruise, Vincent Voci, Michael Wilner, Matthew Mazonkey, Garrett Haake, Tyler Pager, Juleanna Glover, Michael Shepard, Goli Sheikholeslami, Dafna Linzer, Michael Froman, Douglas Rediker and Heidi Crebo-Rediker, Tomicah Tillemann and Susan Blumenthal. — The Shakespeare Theatre Company's annual Will on the Hill event last night included participation by Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Reps. Gabe Amo (D-R.I.), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) and Dina Titus (D-Nev.), D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Aaron Myers, Grover Norquist, Holly Twyford, Renea Brown, Marla Allard, Olivia Beavers, Rich Edson, Steven Clemons, James Hohmann, Simon Godwin and emcee Mike Evans. Also SPOTTED: Carol Danko, Angela Lee Gieras, Neal Higgins, Victoria Hamscho, Karishma Shah Page, Alexa Verveer, LeeAnn Petersen, Andrea LaMontagne, Kathleen Coulombe, Michael Sinacore, Ryan Alcorn, Scott Gelbman, Joe Harris, Nick Sanders, James Sonne, Blake Major, Evan Williams, Cheyenne Hopkins, John Donnelly and Ana Delgado. — The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy marked the recent centennial of her birth with a celebration of reading last night at Vinegar Hill in Arundel, Maine — part of a three-day commemoration of the former first lady in Kennebunkport. The night included keynotes from bestselling authors Claire Lombardo, Dani Shapiro and Chris Whitaker, a video message from Jenna Bush Hager and a conversation with former staffers led by Jean Becker. Also SPOTTED: Doro Bush Koch, George Dvorsky, Ellie Sosa, Neil and Maria Bush, Margaret Bush, Marshall Bush, Andy Card, Shawn Gorman, Mark Lashier, Andrew Mueller, Kristan and Kyle Nevins, Anita McBride, Andrew Roberts and Tom Collamore. WHITE HOUSE ARRIVAL LOUNGE — Wayne Wall has been named senior director for the Middle East at the NSC, which is starting to staff up after a major purge, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. He previously was at the Defense Intelligence Agency. TRANSITIONS — Sabrina Singh is joining Seven Letter as a partner. She most recently was deputy press secretary at the Defense Department, and is a Kamala Harris alum. … Karina Lubell will be a partner at Brunswick Group. She previously led the competition policy and advocacy section at DOJ's Antitrust Division. … Ashley Moir has launched Ashley Moir Media, a PR company with booking services, media training and comms strategy. She most recently was director of national broadcast operations at Deploy/US and is a former senior booker at Fox News. … … Gopal Das Varma is now a VP at Cornerstone Research. He previously was VP at Charles River Associates and is a DOJ Antitrust Division alum. … Allison Rivera will be VP for government and industry affairs at the National Grain and Feed Association. She most recently was executive director of government affairs at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. … Daniel Harder is now a senior government affairs adviser at Mayer Brown. He previously was director of government affairs and public policy at Biogen. WEEKEND WEDDING — John Hagner, partner at Workbench Strategy, and Adam Koehler, professional learning facilitator at World Savvy, got married Saturday in Minneapolis. They met online three years ago. Pic WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Derek Robertson, a reporter for POLITICO's Digital Future Daily and contributor to POLITICO Magazine, and Rachel Greer, associate director of records and archives at the ACLU, recently welcomed Margaret Hope Robertson. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz … David Cohen … Jennifer Rubin … Kim Oates of the House Radio/TV Gallery … Disney's Lucas Acosta … Eric Lieberman … J Street's Jeremy Ben-Ami … Greta Van Susteren … Lindsey Williams Drath … Cesar Gonzalez of Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart's (R-Fla.) office … Jamal Brown … Mike Schoenfeld … Tad Devine of Devine Mulvey Longabaugh … Lorissa Bounds … Kristen Thomaselli ... Mary Kate Cunningham … Marty Kearns of Netcentric Campaigns … POLITICO's Meg Myer … Emily Dobler Siddiqi … former Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) … Ryan Bugas … former South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard … Wendy Teramoto … CNN's Morgan Rimmer … Will Rahn … Sofia Jones of the House Agriculture Committee … Jonathan Martinez of Haleon … Tamar Epps of the National Head Start Association … Amy Barrera of Senate Majority Leader John Thune's office Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@ or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn't happen without our editor Zack Stanton, deputy editor Garrett Ross and Playbook Podcast producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store